How Do You Kill Wild Violets in Lawns?

To kill wild violets in a lawn, apply an appropriate herbicide in the fall. Repeat the application the next spring and fall as necessary.

Identify the infestation as wild violets

There are many varieties of plants called by this name, so it may be necessary to take one of the plants to your local garden center to have the plant identified.

Purchase the correct herbicide

Choose a herbicide containing triclopyr unless your lawn is planted with bermudagrass. You can purchase this herbicide at most home improvement stores.

Prepare a sprayer

Follow the instructions for mixing the herbicide with water if necessary. Place the prepared herbicide into a garden sprayer with a narrow spray nozzle.

Add a surfactant or dish soap

To ensure the herbicide stays on the wild violet's waxy leaves, use a surfactant. Purchase a commercial surfactant, or use dish soap. Mix 1 tablespoon of dish soap with each gallon of spray in the sprayer.

Spray the violets in the fall

In the early fall, spray every violet in the lawn with the herbicide and surfactant mix. Douse the plants thoroughly, spraying the leaves most heavily.

Spray again in the spring

Since it is unlikely that just one application of the herbicide completely eradicates all the violets, spray the violets again in the spring. Douse each plant thoroughly, especially all the leaves.

Repeat as necessary

Repeat the spraying every fall and spring as long as the violets are present. This is a very difficult weed to eradicate completely.